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How to become an
Editor
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Who is an Editor?
Essential figures for film and television productions, Editors work behind the scenes to shape engaging and exciting audiovisual output. Technical skills and creativity concur to select, organize and assemble the different scenes shot during filming. The editing stages’ ultimate goal is to give coherence and fluidity to a project’s narrative sequence.
What does an Editor do?
Editors are in charge of the delicate post-production stages of a film and, more generally, of any audiovisual project. Responsibilities include viewing the footage as well as selecting the best shots, and scenes that best fit the product’s artistic vision. Working closely with Directors and creative teams, these professionals participate in the creation of a narrative sequence by establishing scene order, pacing, and structure. Scenes are then cut and assembled to achieve smooth transitions and a cohesive narrative. The use of editing software allows to edit images, add special effects, and perfection the sound, in collaboration with sound engineers.
Which skills should an Editor have?
As mentioned, an Editor must combine technical skills and artistic sensibility. In addition to this, it is important to communicate effectively with Directors and the work teams involved in post-production.
- Artistic vision: these professionals are required to have creative vision and a deep understanding of film or television narrative and aesthetics to transform raw material into an engaging experience for the audience.
- Software knowledge: editors must be able to use the most common editing tools, including Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
- Soft skills: among the skills needed for this role is the ability to find creative solutions to problems which may occur during post-production. Equally important is a disposition to cooperate and manage time at best, to meet delivery deadlines.
How to become an Editor?
Acquiring the technical skills and artistic sensibility just described requires a strong experience which can be built from a solid educational background. NABA's Three-Year Course in Cinema and Animation addresses the industry’s dynamic nature and new technologies, to train professionals who can manage the creation of audiovisual projects for cinema and web, traditional and experimental, interactive and transmedia. Specifically, in the Editing Techniques courses we focus on the use of specific editing software. Working on images is the starting point to develop a sophisticated reflection on the meanings, emotional charge, pace and space-time construction of images.
